Jewish Agency Executive Deadlocked on Participation in Talks with Britain on Palestine

August 30, 1946

London (Aug. 29)

After reaching a deadlock yesterday on the question of whether to accept or reject the British invitation to participate in the forthcoming talks on Palestine, the executive of the Jewish Agency, meeting in Paris, today sent four of its members to London by plane to report on the situation with Dr. Chaim Weizmann. Simultaneously, the deadlock was being discussed by the Small Zionist Actions Committee in Jerusalem.

The four members of the executive who came to report to Dr. Weizmann are Prof. Selig Brodetsky, Berl Locker, Louis Lipsky and Dr. Nahum Goldmann. Dr. Weizmann left the nursing home where he is recuperating from an eye operation and will confer with the four at his Dorchester home.

Strong arguments against participation in the London parley were expressed by members of the Jewish Agency executive yesterday in Paris during a twenty-four-hour un interrupted session. The likelihood of rejection of the British invitation appeared very strong at the conclusion of the meeting according to reliable information. How ever, it is understood that no final decision was taken. Such a decision will be reached after the consultation with Dr. Weizmann and following receipt of a report from Palestine of the sentiments of the Actions Committee.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned that during the discussion in Paris yesterday the executive members of the Jewish Agency avoided being influenced by questions of prestige, but weighed their arguments only in the light of the possibility of achieving positive results by participation in the conference. One of the arguments which, it is understood, was most repeated, was that as the British Government seems to be determined to follow its own course of action, the Jewish Agency should not be a party to it.

The office of the Jewish Agency in Paris will now be expanded following a decision by David Ben-Gurion and Dr. Moshe Sneh to remain in France. A staff from Palestine has arrived in Paris to conduct the secretarial work of the office.